OBPD honors officers, civilians for effective police work

Friday, May 4, 2018 |

OBPD Detective Shane Jarrell receives the agency's Exceptional Duty Award for Investigator of the Year at the awards ceremony at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

City Commissioners Rob Littleton, Rick Boehm and his wife Dee, Mayor Partington and City Commissioner Troy Kent at the awards ceremony at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

OBPD Chief Jesse Godfrey awards Lee Fannell with a Life Saving Award for saving a car crash victim from a pond at the awards ceremony at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

OBPD Chief Jesse Godfrey and Officer Robert Pearson, recipient of the Exceptional Duty Award for Officer of the Year at the awards ceremony at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

OBPD Capt. Lisa Rosenthal hands Chief Jesse Godfrey the award for Civilian of the Year to hand to Evelyn Rebostini at the awards ceremony at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Recognizing the agency's accomplishments to date.

The Ormond Beach Police Department held its 2018 awards ceremony to recognize officers and civilian who have a difference in the past year.

Individual awards were given to citizens like Lee Fannell, who saved a woman trapped in a submerged vehicle in a pond in Bear Foot Trail by diving in and assisting her back to safety and Officer Robert Pearson, who received the Officer of the Year award for his professionalism and reliability in his work. Commendations were also given to units who handled difficult cases, such as those who responded to the 100 block of Bennett Lane on January 8, where a Kissimmee woman's body was dumped after a case of mistaken identity in a murder-for-hire.

"To the officers and civilian employees, your work matters and I thank you for that," OBPD Chief Jesse Godfrey said. "To the families and loved ones, their work matters because you support them, love them and share them with us. I thank you for that."

Godfrey also thanked the citizens who were recognized, saying they completed the circle of effective police work. He also mentioned Officer David Starke, who was hurt in a motorcycle crash while responding to a call on April 18.

"We almost lost him a couple weeks ago, and it's a grim reminder of what we do every day," Godfrey said, "what all these men and women out here do every day."